Zotero can take the references in your library and insert them as citations in your Word document and generate a reference list in a variety of referencing styles. You can also use Zotero with Google Docs, but the instructions below are for Microsoft Word.
Zotero will be installed in the tabs across the top in Word when you download Zotero desktop. If you are using a College PC and do not see Zotero you may need to open Zotero desktop and go to the Tools menu, select More and check that the Zotero Word for Windows plugin is enabled.
If you are not seeing it in Word despite enabling plugin, then you may need to do a manual installation.
In Zotero go to Edit – Preferences – Cite and in the Word Processors tab there should be an option to install or reinstall the Word add -in. After doing this, close and re-open Word.
In Word:
- Please your cursor where you want a citation to appear
- Click on Add/Edit Citation in the Zotero tab
- The first time you use this a popup may prompt you to choose which referencing style you are using. You can also change the style through the desktop app by clicking the Edit tab, selecting Preferences, choosing the Cite tab and selecting the one you one from the list, or looking for additional styles through Get more styles
- After clicking the Add/Edit Citation a search field will appear, and you can search for the details of the reference you want, before you select the correct reference from the list provided and press Return on your keyboard.
- When you’ve finished adding citations, place your cursor where you’d like your reference list to appear and click on Add/Edit Bibliography. This will generate a reference list in your selected style
